Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse
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Roadside view of the lighthouse
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grand Lake St. Marys-Northwood Addition |
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| Nearest city | Celina, Ohio |
| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003614 |
| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1982 |
The Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse is a cool old lighthouse. It's also known as the "Northwoods Lighthouse." You can find it on Grand Lake St. Marys in Ohio. This lake is actually a big reservoir, which is like a human-made lake. The lighthouse is near the city of Celina in Mercer County. It was built a long time ago, in 1923. Its design was inspired by the famous Eddystone Lighthouse in the United Kingdom.
Contents
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
This lighthouse is mostly made of concrete. It sits on a strong stone base. The lighthouse stands about 50 feet tall from its base to the very top. At the top, there's a dome made of bronze and glass. This dome protects the bright light, called a beacon. A fancy weathervane sits on top of the dome.
Why Was This Lighthouse Built?
The Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse was built for two reasons. First, it was meant to be a beautiful decoration. But it also worked as a real lighthouse! In its early years, it helped guide boats. It operated from April to November each year. The U.S. Coast Guard gave it a special license to do this.
Grand Lake St. Marys was originally created to supply water for the Miami and Erie Canal. Even though the canal wasn't used much by 1923, there were still many boats on the lake. So, a lighthouse was helpful on this part of the lake.
Other Lighthouses on the Lake
Today, the Northwoods Lighthouse is one of three lighthouses on Grand Lake St. Marys. The Celina Rotary Club built another working lighthouse in 1986. It's located at the lake's northwest corner. A third lighthouse was finished on the lake's southern shore in 2003.
Unlike the other two lighthouses, you can't reach the Northwoods Lighthouse by land. The land around it is privately owned. This means the public cannot get to it.
A Special Historic Place
In 1982, the Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic places in the United States. It was added because of its special architecture.
Its location is quite unusual. Western Ohio is a flat area far from any big oceans or large bodies of water. This lighthouse is the only historic one in this region. Until the Rotary Club built their lighthouse in 1986, it was the only lighthouse around at all!
